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Around 7.8 million Britons are struggling to keep up with their rent or mortgage payments (Picture: PA)

Nearly 8million people are in danger of losing their homes as they struggle to pay their rent or mortgage, research shows.

Some 20 per cent – equivalent to 7.8million people – admitted they ‘constantly’ found it difficult to make payments, housing charity Shelter revealed.

Four per cent – or 1.4million people – went into 2013 in rent or mortgage arrears, while 2.5 per cent – or 1million people – used a payday loan to cover housing bills last year.

And seven per cent of those surveyed – about 2.8million residents – dipped into unauthorised overdrafts to pay their way.

‘It’s shocking to think so many families will be starting the new year with a huge weight hanging over them, trapped in a daily struggle to keep their home,’ said Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb.

Landlords were blamed for raising rents, while mortgage lenders were also criticised for increasing standard variable rates for repayment.